| What is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate? Sodium Lauryl | | | | chemicals it causes nitrosating agents to form. Many |
| Sulphate or SLS to put it simply, is a foaming agent. | | | | of these chemicals are commonly used in products |
| SLS is used in almost any cleaning or cleansing | | | | containing SLS. Human toxicity for both nitrate and |
| product that foams when it is used. Sodium Lauryl | | | | nitrite is well proven, nitrite is the more toxic but |
| Sulphate is derived from coconut, but, unlike the | | | | nitrate converts readily in the human body to nitrite. |
| claims of some unscrupulous companies that would | | | | It has been estimated that between 50 and 100 |
| have you believe that it is a harmless natural | | | | micrograms of nitrosarnines are applied to the skin |
| 'coconutty' ingredient, it in no way resembles coconut | | | | when using shampoos etc that contain nitrates. To |
| or anything harmless or natural by the time it | | | | consume the same amount of this carcinogen you |
| becomes Sodium Lauryl Sulphate as you are about to | | | | would have to eat over 1lb of bacon. |
| find out! | | | | As seen in the MSDS, it has not been shown at this |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is used in degreasers and the | | | | point in time that SLS is carcinogenic (causes cancer), |
| harsh industrial cleaners that are used in places such | | | | however the nitrates and nitrites that are formed by |
| as mechanics workshops and factories to remove | | | | it's coming into contact with other chemicals are, so it |
| grease and grime from floors or equipment. It is also | | | | doesn't really matter whether the SLS in itself causes |
| used in your childs bubblebath, your toothpaste and | | | | cancer, the combination of SLS with other chemicals |
| shampoo. Does that sound right? | | | | will likely make the end product on the shelf and then |
| The Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS for Sodium | | | | in your bathroom, potentially carcinogenic. |
| Lauryl Sulphate (designed to provide both workers | | | | Note: SLS is used to irritate skin in laboratories - |
| and emergency personnel with information on | | | | hmmmmm. |
| handling or working with a particular substance ) says | | | | Common health problems that can often caused or |
| the following under Section 3 Hazards Identification - | | | | made worse by the use of SLS and therefore |
| Potential Acute Health Effects: | | | | improved or eliminated by stopping using it, are things |
| Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye | | | | such as: |
| contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly | | | | - Mouth ulcers (SLS in toothpaste) |
| hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer). Severe | | | | - Skin problems such as rashes, excema, itching, |
| over-exposure can result in death. | | | | psoriasis etc |
| Potential Chronic Health Effects: | | | | - Scalp problems -flakey scalp and dandruff |
| Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (sensitizer). | | | | - Dry or unhealthy hair, split ends and breakage |
| CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. | | | | - Bladder or urinary tract infections - caused by |
| MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for bacteria and/or | | | | soaking in baths with bubble bath containing SLS |
| yeast. | | | | (very common) |
| TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. | | | | - Cataracts |
| DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. | | | | - Premature aging of skin |
| The substance may be toxic to skin. | | | | Sodium Laureth Sulphate or SLES is the 'Ethoxylated' |
| Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance | | | | version of Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. It has pretty much |
| can produce target organs damage. Repeated | | | | the same properties, although considered to be less |
| exposure to a highly toxic material may produce | | | | of an irritant, hence it's use in Baby Products. It has |
| general deterioration of health by an accumulation in | | | | an additional problem tho. Due to the ethoxylation |
| one or many human organs.and in Section 4 First Aid | | | | process, it is likely to be contaminated with 1,4 |
| Measures - | | | | Dioxane. 1,4 Dioxane causes cancer! and yet SLES is |
| Eye Contact: | | | | the common foaming agent found in the most |
| Check for and remove any contact lenses. In case of | | | | commonly used and widely advertised/known brands |
| contact, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water | | | | of baby products. Isn't that a beautiful picture, baby |
| for at least 15 minutes. Cold water may be used. Get | | | | having a nice relaxing bath with lavender oil to relax |
| medical attention. | | | | him and put him to sleep and a little 1,4 Dioxane |
| Skin Contact: | | | | mixed in as a surprise ingredient? But it won't be on |
| In case of contact, immediately flush skin with plenty | | | | the label so don't bother looking. |
| of water. Cover the irritated skin with an emollient. | | | | Because the 1,4 Dioxane is not an added ingredient, |
| Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Cold water | | | | but a bi product of the ethoxylation process used to |
| may be used.Wash clothing before reuse. Thoroughly | | | | create ingredients, it's not on the label. So you |
| clean shoes before reuse. Get medical attention. | | | | wouldn't know it was there - unless you had it |
| Serious Skin Contact: | | | | tested. |
| Wash with a disinfectant soap and cover the | | | | Tests for 1,4 Dioxin contamination were conducted |
| contaminated skin with an anti-bacterial cream. Seek | | | | by on a range of so called 'Natural' and 'Organic' |
| immediatemedical attention. | | | | personal care products in 2008 by the Organic |
| Inhalation: | | | | Consumers Association which has over 500,000 |
| If inhaled, remove to fresh air. If not breathing, give | | | | members and is overseen by David Steinman (co - |
| artificial respiration. If breathing is difficult, give | | | | author of 'The Safe Shoppers Bible' with Dr Samuel |
| oxygen. Getmedical attention immediately. | | | | Epstein). |
| Serious Inhalation: Not available. | | | | Many of these products were found to be |
| Ingestion: | | | | contaminated as they contain 'ethoxylated' |
| Do NOT induce vomiting unless directed to do so by | | | | ingredients. Ethoxylation is used on harsh ingredients |
| medical personnel. Never give anything by mouth to | | | | (not only SLS) to make them milder. |
| anunconscious person. If large quantities of this | | | | Some of these tested products had massive |
| material are swallowed, call a physician immediately. | | | | amounts of 1,4 Dioxane, some small amounts, but |
| Loosen tightclothing such as a collar, tie, belt or | | | | any amount is too much! When I looked at these |
| waistband. | | | | results, I realised that I've used at least one or two |
| Serious Ingestion: Not available. | | | | of these brands in the past (before I was introduced |
| I might be stating the obvious here, but isn't this | | | | to the products that I now use and got a little more |
| what is happening every day in homes around the | | | | educated on the whole subject), thinking they were |
| world? Most people using ordinary everyday products | | | | a safe option and I know that many people around |
| are coming into contact with Sodium Lauryl Sulphate - | | | | the world are doing the same thing - being led down |
| using it on their skin - multiple times per day? Let's | | | | the garden path and having their health compromised |
| count the ways. | | | | at the same time. |
| | | | Some of these companies are just too small and |
| 1. Shampoo | | | | don't have the resources to create truly safe |
| 2. Body wash or shower gel | | | | products. Some small companies probably believe |
| 3. Skin cleanser | | | | they're making a good product, because they don't |
| 4. Toothpaste | | | | have the facilities or again the resources to do the |
| 5. Hand washing products | | | | testing of their products and the ingredients going |
| 6. Dish washing liquids | | | | into the products and so are unable to do the job |
| 7. Household cleaning products | | | | properly, but that's no excuse. Some of these |
| 8. Industrial cleaning products | | | | companies do know and just don't care. Some |
| As you can see, even the average house wife and | | | | companies do their best to hide unsafe ingredients |
| her average children are being exposed to this stuff | | | | and disguise them to fool their customers into |
| several times a day and what did the MSDS say? It's | | | | believing they're making a safe choice. |
| hazardous if if comes into contact with skin and | | | | There are so many different names SLS can be |
| eyes? It can build up in organs? Repeated or | | | | listed as - most of us would have no idea it was the |
| prolonged exposure can cause organ damage? and | | | | same thing! I know the ACCC recently investigated |
| repeated exposure can cause a deterioration in | | | | products made here in Australia and branded as |
| health? | | | | 'Natural' and 'Organic' for not revealing ingredients on |
| Does it make sense to you to be using this in | | | | it's labels and misleading consumers. I had actually |
| products designed to use on your body? and even | | | | looked at these products in the health shop and |
| worse on your baby's little bodies? I don't think so. | | | | noticed that one of the ingredients was something I |
| So why do companies use the stuff? | | | | hadn't seen before and when I actually really looked |
| Simple - It's cheap and there's no law against it! | | | | at it and worked the wording around in my head, I |
| That's why. Sadly, most of the companies producing | | | | realised it was SLS in disguise. Many people wouldn't |
| these products, only really care about their bottom | | | | have tho. They'd have been looking for Sodium |
| line - not your health. They want to create a product | | | | Lauryl Sulphate or SLS and that's not what it said. |
| that appears to do the job and that will make them | | | | I've also seen on another very well known brand of |
| big profits - that's it. | | | | personal care and cosmetic products that they don't |
| And yet there's more! Yes there are other problems | | | | even have their ingredients listed. Or they only list |
| with SLS that aren't mentioned in the MSDS that | | | | the 'nice' ones. A family member was a distributor for |
| make using this stuff even worse (as if it wasn't bad | | | | this company, and showed me an eye cream. The |
| enough already!). | | | | only listed ingredient on the label was Sweet Almond |
| - SLS has been shown to damage the eyes of | | | | Oil. The cream was white, thick and heavily perfumed |
| growing children permanently. It actually prevents | | | | - there was more in there than Sweet Almond Oil! |
| them from developing as they should as it affects | | | | My family member who was selling this stuff believed |
| the protein structure of the eyeball. | | | | the labelling tho as would many people, not really |
| - SLS also has been shown to make the skin more | | | | thinking about it, until I asked her to see her |
| permeable for a period of time after it's use, | | | | distributor manual and found the ingredient list for the |
| potentially allowing more of other harmful chemicals | | | | product. There was much more than Sweet Almond |
| that the skin comes into contact with, to be | | | | Oil in that product, let me tell you! I did note that on |
| absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream | | | | the distributor manual, was a notice saying that it |
| (not a good thing when you realise that the products | | | | was for distributors only - not to be shown to |
| that contain SLS almost always contain other harmful | | | | customers. Interesting! |
| ingredients also). | | | | Anyway, I'm getting off track. Avoid SLS and SLES if |
| - When SLS comes into contact with some other | | | | you value your health - end of story! |